Department for Transport

Motorways: Safety

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the review into safety on Smart Motorways is expected to be completed; and when they intend to publish the findings of that review.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to a reduction of maximum permitted speeds on Smart Motorways either (1) pending the outcome of their review on Smart Motorways or (2) as part of any plans to improve the safety of such motorways.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Secretary of State for Transport heard the concerns about smart motorways and asked the Department to carry out, at pace, an evidence stocktake to gather the facts quickly and make recommendations. While I would not want to pre-judge the results of that work, what I can say is that we will continue to prioritise improving safety – making conditions safer for everyone on our roads.

Aviation: China

lord taylor of warwick: Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to temporarily ban flights from China to the UK due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus.

baroness vere of norbiton: To date we have not placed restrictions on air services between the UK and China. Our position is under constant review and any decision to change it would take into account the advice of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer and the positions of the WHO and ICAO.

Airports: Air Pollution

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce air pollution at, and near to, airports.

baroness vere of norbiton: The management of air pollution at, and near to, airports and any restrictions to ensure compliance with limits are the responsibility of airports and the relevant local authorities. In the Aviation Strategy, the Government is considering a broad range of national aviation-related air quality initiatives including potential requirements and guidance for airports to produce air quality plans.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords Terrace: Smoking

lord storey: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what progress has been made towards making the House of Lords terrace smoke free.

lord laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. At its meeting on 11 July 2019 the Services Committee considered a paper on changes to the smoking area on the Terrace. At the meeting the Committee agreed to move the Members’ smoking table into the designated smoking area and increase the coverage of the smoking area to reduce the dispersal of smoke across other Terrace users. The Committee was advised that these changes would take place once the scaffolding on the Terrace had been removed.The Committee further considered the issue at its meeting on 16 January 2020, when, following advice about the issues involved in extending any coverage for a smoking area on the Terrace, the Committee was invited to provide advice on a suitable way forward. Following discussion, the Committee requested that consideration be given to alternative locations for the smoking area; a paper is expected at its March meeting.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Flexible Working

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to (1) adopt the EU’s Work-life Balance Directive, (2) make paternity leave a day one right, (3) increase paternity pay, and (4) introduce eight weeks of paid parental leave as part of each parent’s current unpaid 18-week entitlement.

lord duncan of springbank: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 04 February 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing workers’ rights, and to supporting people to balance their work and caring responsibilities. This month we laid regulations in Parliament which will give grieving parents a right to paid time off work. We also committed in the Queen’s Speech to bring forward an Employment Bill which will make it easier for fathers to take paternity leave; introduce a new entitlement to carer's leave; and to introduce a new entitlement to leave and pay for parents of children who spend time in neonatal care. Our manifesto committed to make it easier for fathers to take paternity leave; we We have recently consulted on high-level options for reforming parental leave and pay, including Paternity Leave and Pay and Unpaid Parental Leave, and will respond to this consultation in due course. After we leave the EU, we will be able to set our own standards for workers’ rights, and we intend to use this opportunity to make the UK the best place in the world to work.

lord duncan of springbank: The Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing workers’ rights, and to supporting people to balance their work and caring responsibilities. This month we laid regulations in Parliament which will give grieving parents a right to paid time off work. We also committed in the Queen’s Speech to bring forward an Employment Bill which will make it easier for fathers to take paternity leave; introduce a new entitlement to carer's leave; and to introduce a new entitlement to leave and pay for parents of children who spend time in neonatal care. Our manifesto committed to make it easier for fathers to take paternity leave; we We have recently consulted on high-level options for reforming parental leave and pay, including Paternity Leave and Pay and Unpaid Parental Leave, and will respond to this consultation in due course. After we leave the EU, we will be able to set our own standards for workers’ rights, and we intend to use this opportunity to make the UK the best place in the world to work.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Hong Kong: British Nationals Abroad

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to assist British citizens stranded in Hong Kong as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The safety and security of British nationals will always be our top priority. The British Consulate-General in Hong Kong remains in close contact with British nationals in the region to ensure they have the latest information they need. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not changed the level of its travel advice for Hong Kong in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak originating in Wuhan, China, though does now advise against all travel to Hubei province and against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao). We have updated our travel advice for all countries and territories which have recorded a confirmed case of the coronavirus.